US VFW honors six plane crash rescuers

The U.S. Veterans of Foreign Wars has recognized the courageous act of six rescuers of a plane crash that injured seven passengers in August.

The group handed over six certificates of appreciation and Life Saving Award plaques to the six rescuers last Wednesday at the VFW Post 3457 office along Beach Road, Garapan.

The Life Saving Award was given to Kelvin Deleon Guerrero and wife Kyoko, Mariano Shiano, Justin Terry, Kurtis Terry and Ber-Moses Pangelinan-Terry. The Deleon Guerreros were present to receive the award.

VFW Post 3457 commander Mariano Fajardo, together with vice commander Larry Guerrero, personally handed the certificates to the rescuers and their representatives. U.S. VFW Commander-in-Chief Gary Kurpius and Adjutant General Allen “Gunner” Kent signed the certificates.

Shiano was present to receive his certificate while Ber-Manis Terry received the award on behalf of his son, Ber-Moses, and nephews Justin and Kurtis. All three rescuers are currently off-island.

Fajardo said the local VFW post took the initiative to let the bravery of these rescuers be known to the VFW headquarters. He said the local post clipped the news stories about the rescue effort and sent them to the US VFW.

“We are happy for their unselfish efforts. The VFW recognizes their efforts. It’s very rewarding,” he said.

Military Veterans Affairs Office administrators Martin Sablan and Ruth Coleman also witnessed the brief ceremony Wednesday afternoon.

Shiano, 40, and his nephews—Ber-Moses Pangelinan Terry, 20, Justin Terry, 19, and Kurtis Terry, 15—were actually the first persons who called 911 and arrived at the plane crash site in Upper Dandan early morning on Aug. 11.

Aware that the burning Piper Cherokee plane may explode at anytime, the four rushed to the scene and pulled out the seven occupants from the burning plane, according to reports.

When the crash happened, Shiano and his nephews were at their house, located near the farm of Larry Cabrera where the plane crash-landed.

The seven-seater Piper Cherokee plane en route to Tinian crashed at 2:15am on Aug. 11, a minute after taking off from the Saipan International Airport.

No fatalities were reported. All seven passengers, including the pilot and a co-pilot, suffered major injuries and were rushed to the Commonwealth Health Center but later discharged for homecare.